Sectional vault.



T. W. HENDRY.

SEGTIONAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

h L 7 9 1 0 a I. 6 WW Em +J I w 1 00 ///J.F4 0f 1 Z 7 5 W/ WHW I VII/0V0 1 II n 00 E MJJ dd /C A f M w 2 W w T. W. HENDRY.

SEGTIONAL VAULT.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

q/ htweooao COLUMBIA PLANoGRAPl-x CO.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. W. HENDRY. SEGTIONAL VAULT.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24, 1911.

Patented July 2, 1912;

3 SHEETS-MEET 3.

7 awe/M04: I Wff jza ry q/mlbwaooeo COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10., WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

THOMPSON W. HENDRY, or DEAL ISLAND, MARYLAND.

SECTIONAL VAULT.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMPSON WV. I-IEN- DRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deal Island, in the county of Somerset and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Vaults; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sectional vaults and has for its primary object to provide a sectional vault that may be readily and easily assembled and permanently retained in its assembled position.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the sections may be so united with each other as to form a substantially integral structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plurality of sections provided with novel cement retaining grooves of peculiar construction and arrangement.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of my improved vault. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the cover omitted. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical'longitudinal section taken on the line H in Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 1. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are front, end and top views of one of the end blocks 16. Figs.'11,'12 and 13 are similar views of one of the side blocks 8.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I employ a plurality of sections preferably formed of reinforced plastic material, such as concrete, beton, and the like, and suitably shaped to fit in their respective positions upon the top, bottom or sides,

of the vault. Each of the sections is provided with cement or plaster retaining grooves in the edges or faces in position to communicate with the contiguous grooves of the adjacent sections, allowing the cement Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24, 1911.

Patented July 2,1912.

Serial No. 622,933.

or like binding agent to extend into the grooves of both sections to securely unite them in their assembled position. To more firmly secure the sections together when the cement is hardened, while permitting the plastic cement to flow freely within the grooves, the grooves of each section are arranged so that when the sections are assembled the contiguous grooves of all adjacent sections will be offset with respect to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Deepened recesses or short transverse grooves may also be provided in the faces of the sections at various points along the cement receiving grooves to assist inuniting and retaining the sections together.

The vault is designed to be constructed above the ground, or, if desired, the sections may be assembled within a suitable trench or grave, in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Taking up the sections in the order in which they are usually assembled, the bottom of the vault is composed of the end sections 1 and intermediate sections 2 suitably formed of reinforced concrete or like material. The end sections 1 are provided on their upper faces with the side grooves 3 and end grooves 4, while the intermedlate sections 2 are provided with similar side grooves 3 arranged to form, when 1n assembled position, continuat-ions of the slde grooves 3 of the end sections 1.

Suitable recesses 1 or short transverse grooves may be provided at various points in the grooves 301' end grooves 4. The ntermediate sections 2 are. also provided w1th grooves 5 in their opposite edges 6 adapted to communicate with similar grooves 5 in the adjacent edges of the end sections 1. The grooves '5 and 5 are arranged in offset relation to each other, i. 6., the planes of their centers are spaced from each other.

The sides of the vault are composed of a plurality of similar interfitting sect ons 8, each provided with a continuous peripheral groove 9 in the edges thereof. 'At var1ous points along this groove are provided recesses 10 or short transverse grooves 11 cut into the edges of the section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

In the illustrated embodiment. of my invention the side sections 8 are formed with longitudinally-extending ears 12 arranged in reverse position on the opposite endsof the sections, and having longitudinally 1nclinedfaces 13, the inclined face of one extension slanting downwardly and the other upwardly as shown in Fig. 11. On the invided with a 7 tion.

ner face of the sections 8 and preferably adjacent the edge of one of the ears 12, upright grooves 14 are provided, which, when in assembled position are adapted to communicate with a similar groove in the end section 15 of the vault. The grooves 9 of the side sections are arranged to communicate with the side grooves 3 of the bottom sections of the vault and are oflset with relation to the same, while the groove 9 of one section 8 is ofi'set with relation to the similar grooves 9 of the adjacent side sections.

The ends of the vault are preferably formed each in one section, and as herein shown each comprising a body portion 16 having ears 17 upon opposite ends thereof, said ears having transversely inclined faces 18 substantially as herein shown. The ears 17 of one of the end sections 15 are disposed at its upper corners and the inclined faces 18 thereof slant outward and upward, while in the opposite end section 15 the ears 17 are disposed at the lower corners thereof and the inclined faces 18 slant outward and downward. A peripheral groove 19 is formed in the edges of the ends 15 of the vault, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, said grooves being adapted to communicate with and be offset with relation to the end grooves 4 of the end sections 1 of the bottom of the vault, the groove 14 in the inner face of the side sections, and a groove in the lower surface of the end sections of the top of the vault, to be hereinafter described. Each of the sections 15 of the ends of the vault is also provided on its inner face with upright grooves 20 adapted to communicate with and be offset with relation to portions of the groove 9 in the edges of the side sections 8. Suitable recesses or short transverse grooves 8 are provided at various points in the grooves 19 and 20 of the sections 15, (see Fig. 8).

The top of the vault is formed of end sections 21 and intermediate sections 22, all provided on their lower faces with side grooves 23, while the end sections 21 are also provided with end grooves 24. To firmly secure the sections of the top of the vault in assembled position, the end sections. are prolongitudinally extending flange 25 having a recess 26 cut .in its forward edge, and the inner edges of the end sections 21 have a similar recess 27 cut therein adjacent the lower face of the section. On one ofthe end sections 21 this longitudinal flange 25 is disposed near the lower face of the section, while in the opposite end section 21 the longitudinal flange is reversed and extends from the upper face of the sec- The intermediate sections 22 of the top of the vault are each provided on opposite ends with similar longitudinally-extending flanges 28 having recesses 29 cut therein,

the flange on one end extending from the lower. portion thereof and the opposite flange extending from adjacent the upper face of the section. It will be apparent that when the end sections 21 and intermediate sections 22 of the top of the vault are assembled a space will be left between the flanges 25 and 28 for the reception of the "cement or like binding agent 32, which also extends into the recesses 26 and 29 in the adjacent edges of the sections. (See Fig. 4). Suitable recesses 30 may be formed at various points along the side grooves 23 and end grooves 24 of the top sections of the '3 vault.

When it is desired to assemble the various sections of the vault, the end sections 1 and intermediate sections 2 of the bottom of the vault are first placed in position and cement or like binding means inserted into the communicating grooves 5 and 5 in the edges of the sections. The sections 15 of the ends of the vault are then placed in position and a suitable binding agent inserted into the grooves 19 in the edges of said sections and the end grooves 4 in the sections 1 of the bottom of the vault. The side sections 8 are then suitably assembled in position upon the bottom and engaged with the end sections of the vault, and a binding agent inserted to fill all of the grooves in the edges and inner faces of the side, end and bottom sections of the vault. the plastic cement is poured or otherwise inserted into these grooves it will completely fill all portions of the peripheral grooves and the various recesses and short transverse When n grooves so that when the cement is hardened there will be substantially integral walls suitably formed of cement and reinforced concrete. After the casket is placed within the vault and it is desired to seal the tomb the top sections of the vault are as- V the vault could be lengthened by inserting H another intermediate section 2. So also the top is made up of two end sections and one intermediate section, and another intermediate section could be added to lengthen the device. 'termediate side section might bejadded to lengthen each side member, it being only necessary that all added sectionsof the top, bottom, and sides shall be of equal width.

And so also an additional in The end sections 15 are substantially duplicates of each other but disposed in relatively inverted positions, so that the inclined faces 18 of the ears 17 of one end face upward, while those in the other face downward as shown in Fig. 1; and the length of each end section, taken on a line drawn through both its ears 17 is the same as the length of each section of the top and each section of the bottom, which is the entire .width of the vault. Internally the latter will be of transverse and upright dimensions adapting it to use for burial purposes whatever the size of the cadaver. In other words, this vault is useful for burial purposes in the great majority of cases, by building it about as shown in the drawings when the cadaver is a child or a small-sized adult, or by adding asingle unit each to the top, bottom and each side when the cadaver is of greater length. Moreover if the structure be built up in the manner described above, it has strength to withstand the ravages of time and to resist the profane attempts of unauthorized persons to gain the interior of the vault, and if well built it will be airtight and water-tight. The bottom sections are sealed together along their meet ing edges into one unitary slab, and the same may be said of the top section, both slabs being the full width of the vault. The side sections are both hooked and sealed together where they meet, and their upper and lower edges are sealed beneath the cover and upon the bottom by means of the cement in the registering grooves. The cement within the peripheral grooves 9 of the sections and in the side grooves 3 and 23 of the bottom and top members prevents either side from'being moved laterally outward or inward; and, similarly, the cement within the recesses 1 and 30 which cross these side grooves will prevent the top, side and bottom members as units from being moved longitudinally with relation to each other. Finally the longitudinally inclined faces 13 of the ears 12 serve to tie the side sections to each other and serve alsoin connect-ion with the transversely inclined faces 18 of the ears 17 of the end sections 15to lock said end sections in place between the extremities of the two side members. Thus it will be seen that, if this vault be built up as described above, it is impossible to gain access to its interior until its top is lifted; and in order to safeguard a vault of this character from desecration it would be only necessary to apply fastening means to the top member, or attach to it mechanism for sounding an alarm when it was disturbed.

If desired, the different blocks or sections composing the vault may be reinforced by metal wires or rods, as indicated at 10 in Fig. 4C, or in any other suitable manner. These I metallic reinforcements greatly strengthen the sections and prevent them from falling apart should they be cracked or broken.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention I claim 1. The herein described sectional vault made up of top and bottom members whose adjacent faces are provided with grooves paralleling their edges and with transverse grooves at intervals intersecting said grooves; and upright members standing on edge between the top and bottom members and made in interfitting sections, all upright members having grooves along their upper and lower edges disposed to mate with those in the other members and transverse grooves intersecting the same at intervals to mate with said other transverse grooves, for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein described sectional vault made up of two separated horizontal members whose adjacent faces are provided with grooves paralleling their edges and with transverse grooves at intervals intersecting said grooves, one of said horizontal members being composed of sections having registering grooves along their meeting edges; and upright side and end members standing on edge between the horizontal members and the side members made in interfitting sections, all upright members having grooves along their upper and lower edges disposed to mate with those in the horizontal members and transverse grooves intersecting the same at intervals to mate with said other transverse grooves, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMPSON W. HENDRY.

Witnesses G. HELLER, CLAY A. NICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

